Vertical vulcanizing-press.



No. 759,195. PATBNTED'MAY 3, 1904. E. C. SHAW. vVERTICAL VULGANIZING PRESS.

I APPLICATION FILED 00T. 17, 1903. N0 MODEL. l v 2 SHEETS-*SHEET 1l wnNEssEs; lNvENToR FIGA; )gnyv 5,2 I2 Ji Ta ,3 ATTORNEY 74 7% E. C. SHAW. VERTICAL VULGANIZING PRESS.

No. 759,195. PATBNTBD MAY 3, 1994.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.17, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG. 5.

f5 n llnuf 3] 'i 2 5 WW /g ///W /'//I y. WITNESSES': I Jl 5 INVENTOR 999m a 62M 1.99... MV1/l mi Lf/'LI BY f Lf ATTORNEY Patented May 3, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EDWIN OOUPLAND SHAW', OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE B. F. GOODRIGH COMPANY OF OHIO, OF AKR-ON, OHIO, A OORPORAIION OF OHIO.

VERTICAL VULCANIZING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATIONforming part f Letters'latent No. 759,195, dated May 3, 1904.

n Original application filed June 17, 1903, Serial N o. 161,888. Divided and this application filed Uctcber 17, 1903. Serial 110.177,462. (No model.)

T0 all 'Loh/0111, rif; 'Hefty con/cern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN OOUPLAND SHAW, a citizen or' the United States of America, residing at the city of Akron, county of Summit, and State oi' Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vertical Vulcanizinglresses, of which the following' is a speciiication.

This invention relates to an improved vertically disposed vulcanizing' press adapted more especially for curing annular vehiclewheel tires by the aid of steam heat as a vulcanizing medium; and the invention has for its object to provide a simple, eiiicient, and

economically-operating apparatus of this character.v

The invention includes a vulcanizing-press in which one or more molds holding' wheeltires or other rubber products may be subjected to steam heat or other vulcanizing' medium while the molds are held closed by pressure of a ram or follower, which preferably is a Huid-operated ram, compensating' change in mass of the rubber stock while it is under g'oing vulcanization, thereby assuring' constant proper closure of the molds without requiring time-consuming and expensive bolting together oi' their halves or parts. A series of readily-handled gratings also are pret'- erably interposed between successive molds in the vulcanizing-chamber. These gratings, in connection with the skeleton or perforated form of the ram-head, together with channels provided between ribs or projections formed on the under side of the closed vulcanizercover, provide for free circulation of steam or other medium around all parts of the molds to vulcanize their contents evenly, quickly, and economically and also assure a free circulation oi water or other cooling' medium for quickly cooling' the molds after the vulcanization is effected. A crane and piston hoist also are provided for applying' and laterally removing the vulcaniZer-cover and operate in manner permitting' locking and unlocking' of the cover while it is suspended by or from the crane-hoist.

The invention will lirst be described and then will be particularly defined in claims hereinafter set forth.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specih'cation, and in which Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of my improved vulcanizing press shown closed and with a series ot' tire-filled molds and interposed gratings conlined between the press-ram and the locked cover of the vulcanizer. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional View showing' the press-cover lifted by the crane-hoist priorto swinging the cover to one side by the crane. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line a t in Fig. I and with the partsappearing as viewed upward in direction of the arrow. Fig. l is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 6b in Fig'. l and illustrates the wedge-locking or' the vulcanizer-cover. Fig'. 5 is a plan view oi' portions of a factory building and molding' plant, showing the vulcaniZer-cover lifted and swung to one side by the crane; and Fig'. 6 is a vertical sectional view of parts shown in Fig. 5, with the addition of a stack of molds and interposed gratings resting on the raised press-ram.

The vertical vulcanizerbod57 1 is shown supported by its brackets 2 on suitable beams or masonery at the level of a factory-building lloor 3 and so that the lower portion of the vulcanizer enters a pitei in the iioor. On this ioor are set up any desired number of moldpreparing tables 5, the tops of which are about level with the open top of the vulcanizer. The vulcanizer and tables are located beneath a track 6, on which run one or more traveling' hoists 7, having' g'rapples 8, by which to lift the molds from the tables and convey them to the vulcanizer and also to arrange gratings between the molds, as hereinafter more fully explained.

The vulcanizingpress may be iitted with any approved style oi' ram or :follower adapted to compress rubber-iilled molds between it and the closed press-cover. I have specially provided a fluid-operated or hydraulic ram comprising a piston S), litted to slide in the press-cylinder 10, and preferably having a skeleton or perforated head 11, through which steam or other vulcanizing medium and also water or other mold-cooling medium may have free circulation. I

The press-cover 12 has a pendent ange 13, to which are fixed a series of spaced wedgeblocks 14, which are adapted to lock underneath a corresponding spaced series of wedgeblocks 15, iXed to a steel rim or band 16, bolted to the top of the press-body for locking the cover tightly closed and as will be understood from inspection of Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. The press-cover is specially provided at its under side with a series of ribs or projections 17, providing between or around them suitable channels 18, through which the heating and cooling' mediums may have free circulation next the top of the uppermost mold 19 of a series of molds clamped between the press-ram and the cover, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. I prefer to interpose between the molds 19 suitable gratings 20, each of which is preferably made with an outer metal ring 21 and a series of parallel cross-bars 22, riveted at their ends to the ring and stayed by a central bolt 23,passing through the bars and having spacing-tubes 24, slipped upon it between the cross-bars and as more clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

To provide for convenient, easy, and quick bodily removal and replacement of the vulcanizer-cover 12, it is hung at 25 to the rod 26 of the piston 27 of any suitable pistonhoist device 28, which itself is hung by eyebars or otherwise from the arm 29 of a crane the crane-hoist.

30, which may turn horizontally on its pivots 31, shown journaled at the floor and ceiling of the factory-building. The crane-arm has proper length to permit swinging by it of the cover 12 directly above the vulcanizer-body 1. The piston 27 may turn in the hoist-cylinder, thus permitting the cover to be turned horizontally in opposite direction by means of hand-bars inserted in its holes 32 to permit locking and unlocking of the cover while it remains connected with or suspended from A pipe 29 supplies water, air, or other fiuid lto the crane-hoist cylinder for operating its piston 27 to raise the vulcanizer-cover 12. A pipe 33 admits water to and permits escape of it from the press-cylinder 10 for operating the ram9 11. Another pipe 34 admits steam to the press-body 1, to which also a pipe 35 is connected for supply and discharge of water or other medium used for cooling the molds in the press. The pressbody also is fitted with the usual steam-gage and thermometer, which it is not necessary to show or describe.

` The operation of this improved vertical vulcanizing apparatus is as follows: When the press-cover 12 is raised and swung to one side by the crane-hoist 28 30, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, and after the molds 9 have been filled at the tables 5 with prepared rubber stock adapted to form wheel-tires or other products, the molds are lifted from the tables by the traveling hoist 7 8 and are transferred thereby along the track 6 to the vulcanizing-press and are deposited on the pressram head 11 in a stack with gratings 20 interposed between them, said gratings being easily and quickly handled by the traveling hoist' for lifting them from the factory-Hoor and placing them upon the molds in the press. The molds and gratings thus may be stacked upon the fully-raised press-ram 9 11,-or they may be piled upon the ram as the latter is gradually lowered step by step, the uppermost mold finally resting a little below the level of the open top of the press-body. The cranehoist 28 30 now is swung around on thepivots 31 to carry the cover 12 over the press-body, whereon it is lowered by the hoist 28 as the piston-raising fluid is allowed to escape through the pipe 29. The cover 12 thus will be lowered until its wedges 14 pass between and below the level of the press-bod y wedges 15, and the cover now will be turned horizontally by hand-bars inserted in its holes 32 for locking it tightly to the press-body at its packing 36 by engagement of the two sets of wedges 14 15. The press-ram 9 11 now is raised by pressure of water admitted at the pipe 33 to clamp the whole series of molds and interposed gratings between the ram-head 11 and the ribs or projections 17 of the locked press-cover 12, and thereby hold the molds closed. Steam now is admitted to the press-body through th'e pipe 34 and passes through the skeleton ram-head 11, the gratings 20, and the cover-channels 18, whereby very free steam and heat circulation is established around all parts of the molds 19 to effect quick, thorough, and uniform vulcanization of the tires or other rubber products in the molds. /Vhen vulcanization is assured, the steam is shut off at the pipe 34, and water or other cooling medium is admitted to the vulcanizer through the pipe 35 to fiood and cool the molds. The ram 9 11 now is relieved of Huid-pressure and the water is drained olf the molds through the pipe 35, and the presscover 12 then is turned reversely by the handbars a sufficient distance to unlock its wedges 14 from the press-body wedges 15 and carry said wedges out of register, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Water or compressed air now is admitted through pipe 29 under the crane-hoist piston 27 to lift it and raise the cover 12 clear of the press-body, and the crane is swung back on its pivots 31 to carry it over bodily to one side or to the iirst-named position. (Shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.) The cooled molds and the interposed gratings now are removed from the vulcanizer by the hoist 7 8, by which the molds are returned to the tables 5, where their vulcanized contents are removed to allow cleaning and refilling of the molds with uncured rubber tires or prod- IOO ITO

ucts ready for transferring' the molds to the vulcanizer by the hoist 7 8, substantially as above described.

By this improved verti cal vulcanizing-press I am able to vulcanize the contents of a single mold or of any number of molds up to the full mold capacity of the press. Should but a sing'le mold be charged into the press, it will be clamped between the skeleton ram-head 11 and the ribs or projections 17 of the presscover, thus providing' as free circulation of steam or heat and of cooling' 'liuid as is assured around two or more clamped molds with one or more gratings interposed between them. The skeleton ram head, the ribbed presscover, and the g'ratings will accommodate molds of varying diameters and form and will always assure free circulation of the vulcanizing and cooling mediums around the mold or molds. By vulcanizing rubber products in two or more molds in one open press-chamber with gratings interposed between the molds I am able to secure more uniformly good results in quick and thorough vulcanization than are possible when a num ber of molds are clamped directly together in a vulcanizer and without steam and water circulating g'rating's and ribs or projections providing' passages between or next them or when a number of separate steam-heated chambers clamping molds between them are employed.

AIt will be specially noticed that the compensating' pressure of the fluid-operated ram resists counter-pressure arising from change in mass of the rubber stock undergoing' vulcanization in the mold or molds, and therefore proper closure of the molds always is assured without recourse to time-consuming' and eX- pensive bolting together of their halves or parts. As this compensating pressure is applied to the molds at or over their entire upper and lower areas, there is practically no danger of the molds buckling or bursting under internal pressures arising' from expanding' or flowing' rubber or from the externallyapplied pressure of the ram. Aftertheproper pressure per square inch required for any given size or composition of tires or other rubber goods in the molds is calculated and the valve admitting water or fluid to the ram 9 lO is set to obtain such pressure on the molds the ram automatically adjusts itself to compensate chang'e in mass of the rubber products in the molds during the entire vulcanizing process and without readjusting the valve or any other part of the apparatus.

Various modifications may be made by the skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit of the invention expressed in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention-- l. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having a cover bodily removablelaterally, and an interior ram or follower formed with a skeleton or perforated head giving' fluid circulation through it and adapted to compress molds between it and the closed cover.

2. A vertical vulcanizing'- press having' an interior ram or follower and a cover bodily removable laterally and provided at its inner face with ribs or projections forming fluidpassag'es next a mold clamped to the closed cover by the ram.

3. A vertical vulcanizing-press having' an interior ram or follower formed with a skeleton or perforated head giving fluid circulation through it, and a cover bodily removablelaterally and provided at its inner face with ribs or projections forming fluid-passages next a mold clamped to the closed cover by the ram.

4. A vertical vulcanizingpress having an interior 'am or follower and a cover removable laterally, combined with a crane adapted to swing the cover aside bodily to permit top charging and discharging of the press.

5. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having' an interior ram or follower and a cover removable laterally, combined with 'a crane having a hoist adapted to lift the cover and allow the crane to swing' it aside bodily to permit top charging and discharging ofthe press.

6. Avertica'l vulcaniZing-press having a removable cover which locks and unlocks by horizontal movement, combined with a crane having a hoist provided with a piston coupled to the cover and permitting movement of the suspended cover to lock and unlock it, said crane and hoist being also adapted to lift the unlocked cover and swing it aside bodily to permit top charging and discharging of the press.

7. A vertical vulcanizing-press having an interior ram or follower formed with a skeleton or perforated head giving' fiuid circulation through it, and a cover removable laterally and provided with inner ribs or projections forming fluid-passages next a mold clamped to the closed cover by the ram, combined with a crane adapted to swing the cover aside bodily to permit top charging and discharging the press.

8. A vertical vulcanizing-press having' an interior ram or follower formed with a skeleton or perforated head giving fluid circulation through it, and a cover removable laterally and locking' and unlocking' by horizontal movement and having inner ribs or projections forming' fluid-passages next a mold clamped to the closed cover by the ram, combined with a crane having a hoist provided with a piston coupled to the cover and permitting' movement of the suspended cover to lock and unlock it, said crane and hoist being also adapted to lift the unlocked cover and swing' it aside bodily to permit top charging and discharging' of the press.

9. A vertical vulcanizingpress having' an interior ram or follower, a bodily-removable cover, and a series of bodily-removable gratings adapted for iuterposition between molds IOO los

placed in the vulcanizer for compression between the ram and the closed cover. v

10. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having an interior ram or follower formed with a skeleton or perforated head giving fluid circulation through it, a bodily-removable cover, and a series of bodily-removable gratings adapted for interposition between molds placed in the vulcanizer for compression between the ram and the closed cover.

11. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having an interior ram or follower, a bodily-removable cover provided with inner ribs or projections forming uid-passages between or around them, and a series of bodily-removable gratings adapted for interposition between molds placed in the vulcanizer for compression between the ram and the closed cover.

12. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having an interior ram or follower formed with a skeleton or perforated head giving fluid circulation through it, a bodily-removable cover provided with inner ribs or projections forming fluid-passages between or around them, and a series of bodily-removable gratings adapted for interposition between molds placed in the vulcanizer for compression between the ram and the closed cover.

13. A vertical VulcaniZing-press having a bodily-removable cover and an interior fluidoperated ram adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating change in mass of the rubber products in the molds during vulcanization.

14. A vertical vulcanizing-press having a bodily-removable cover, and an interior fluidoperated ram having a skeleton or perforated head giving fluid circulation through it and adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating change in mass of the rubber products in the molds during vulcanization.

15. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having a bodily-removable cover provided at its inner face with ribs or projections forming fluidpassages, and an interior fluid-operated ram adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating' change in mass of the rubber products in the molds during vulcanization.

16. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having a bodily-removable cover provided at its inner face with ribs or projections forming fluidpassages, and an interior fluid-operated ram having a skeleton or perforated head giving fluid circulation through it and adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating change in mass of the rubber products in the molds during vulcanization.

17.` A vertical vulcanizing-press having a removable cover, an interior fluid-operated ram adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating change in mass of the rubber products in the molds during vulcanization,combined with a crane having a hoist adapted to lift the cover and allow the crane to swing it aside bodily to permit top charging and discharging of the press.

18. A vertical vulcanizing-press having a removable cover which locks and unlocks by horizontal movement, and an interior fluidoperated ram adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating change in mass of the rubber products in the molds during' vulcaniZation, combined with a crane having a hoist provided with a piston coupled to the cover and permitting movement of the suspended cover to lock and unlock it, said cover and hoist being also adapted to lift the unlocked cover and swing it aside bodily to permit top charging and discharging of the press.

19. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having a bodily-removable cover, an interior huid-operated ram adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating change in mass of the rubber products in the molds during vulcanization, and a series of bodily-removable gratings adapted for interposition between molds placed in the vulcanizer.

20. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having a bodily-removable cover, an interior fluid-operated ram having' a skeleton or perforated head giving fluid circulation through it and adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating change in mass of the rubber products inA the molds during vulcanization, and a series of bodily-removable gratings adapted for interposition between molds placed in the vulcanizer. i

21. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having a bodily-removable cover provided at its inner face with ribs or projections forming fluidpassages, an interior fluid-operated ram adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating change in mass of the rubber products in the molds during' vulcanization, and a series of bodily-removable gratings adapted for interposition between molds placed in the vulcanizer.

22. A vertical vulcanizing-press having a bodily-removable cover provided at its inner face with ribs or projections forming fluidpassages, an interior fluid-operated ram having a skeleton or perforated head giving fluid circulation through it and adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure-compensating change in mass of the rubber products in the molds during vulcanization, and a series of bodily-removable gratings adapted for inter-position between molds placed in the vulcanizer.

23. A vertical vulcaniZing-press having a removable cover, an interior fluid-operated ram adapted to clamp molds between it and the closed cover with a pressure compensating IOO inthe molds during vulcanization, anda series oi' gratings adapted for interposition between molds placed in the Vulcanizer, combined with a c `ane having a hoist provided with a piston coupled to the cover and permitting movement of the suspended cover to lock and unlock it, said crane and hoist being also adapted to lift the unlocked cover and swing it aside bodily to permit top charging and discharging of the press.

EDVIN (JOUPLAND SHAlV. Witnesses:

WALTER HoLBRooK ALLEN, WILLIAM A. MEANS. 

